After explaining the situation…
“We’re going ahead first!”
Hikari, Kaina, and Shun move out. I want to go too, but I can’t just leave Mia and Chris, even if there aren’t monsters near here.
I use Telepathy to bring the golem back, and we start walking fast.
Since Hikari and the others are running, the gap between us keeps getting wider. Mia and Chris aren’t actually slow, but they’re still not going to be able to keep up with Hikari.
It’s worse in a forest like this, where roots and branches get in our way, and we have to be cautious of sneak attacks from blind corners. It’s normally impossible to run like that.
I have skills like Presence Detection and Parallel Thinking, so I’m barely able to do it.
And yet, Hikari can run around like that’s not a problem. She’s really good. In her case, she can just instantly decide where to run.
We advance silently through the quiet forest with me in front, with the only sound being our breaths.
Eventually, the sounds I hear behind me get pretty erratic. Are they at their limit? Thankfully, this is when the golem reaches us, so we can pick up the pace.
I run, and Mia and Chris ride the golem.
Our formation has also changed, with the golem in front, and me behind it.
But at this point, the distance between the monsters and giants has shrunken quite a bit. I’m pretty sure they can see each other.
Hikari and the others have gotten pretty close too, but they’re not going to get there in time.
Eventually, the reactions from the giants I see on Map go all over the place. I’m watching them while running by using Parallel Thinking.
I can see magic energy reactions on Map become smaller, and then reviving. This means all the giants are doing is wasting their stamina.
If we can get there, Mia can deal with the undead quickly, but… It’s annoying, but we just can’t get there fast enough.
If this was an open field with good visibility, I could use Transfer, but not here. I could’ve had the golem hold a Transfer magic item earlier, but I’m only coming up with that idea now that it’s too late.
“Are you all right, Sora?”
I guess that regret is showing on my face, or maybe it looks like I’m tired from running, because Mia turns around and speaks to me with a worried tone.
“I’m fine. More importantly…”
I peek at Map, and see that battle has changed a lot.
I’m only going from what I see on Map, but the giants’ movements were vigorous at the start. I could see their reactions moving all over.
That changed when the small undead reactions revived. Then the giants started being pushed back little by little, but now things are turning around again.
It’s all thanks to the new reactions that joined the battle. First it was Hikari and Kaina, and then Shun.
Mia has infused their weapons with the holy attribute, so they have the advantage against undead.
I also gave Kaina elemental throwing knives, so their numbers are going down a lot.
Then I see more reactions appear from the village. I can see it’s Rurika and Sera, along with Naoto and the others.
Rurika and Sera have throwing knives with elemental effects, and Miharu is a Saint.
Now the tide is turning fast.
Undead disappear, and their numbers advantage is quickly being taken from them.
This all happens an hour before we get there.
“Ah, master.”
“It’s over, uh?”
“Yes. Easy.”
Says Hikari while puffing out her chest.
I see Kaina is surrounded by giants, but they’re not threatening her. They look perplexed.
Shun… Looks dejected for some reason, and Naoto is talking to him.
“What happened?”
“I think it’s because Kaina looks like their statue. And Shun… You can just leave that alone.”
Says Rurika.
“I’m so glad you’re okay, Rurika.”
Hikari said they were captured, and that they weren’t doing anything bad to them, but I’m still relieved to see them well.
And Chris is the same. She runs over to Rurika, looking happy.
“Mia, I’m gonna need more holy water.”
As for Sera, she’s asking to restock her disposable items, and Mia smiles awkwardly.
I think Sera places a lot of importance on those goods because of her painful experiences fighting as a slave.
After seeing that everyone’s safe, one giant approaches us.
“Little ones, are you the friends they talked about?”
“Yes.”
The giant then introduces himself as Kitos.
“…Don’t you feel anything?”
He asks. I think he’s talking about the curse.
I look at the giants again, but don’t really feel any repulsion.
It looks like Chris, Mia, and Kaina are the same, and of course, Shun is too, so I tell him that.
“All right. Let me take you to the village.”
Kitos turns around, and speaks to the other giants.
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Thanks for the treat.